Application of heat to retorts, coke ovens, and the like



Dec. 22, 1936. J, ROBERTS 2,065,245

APPLICATION oF HEAT To REToRTs, C'OKE ovENs AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 17, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. l.

Dec.. 22, 193e. J. ROBERTS 2,065,245

APPLICATION OF HEAT TO RETORTS, COKE OVENS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug'. 17, 1935 3 sheets-sheet 2 e bl e e Fig'. 4.

Inventor Fig. by

). 2 Sul-4J .d ttorrngy J. ROBERTS Dec. 22, 1936.

APPLICATION OF HEAT TO RETORTS, COKE OVENS AND THE LIKE Filed Aulg. K 17, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 22, 1936 emes PATE? FFE John Roberts, Westminster, London, England Application August 17, 1935, Serial No. 36,688 In Great Britain January 19, 1934 4 Claims.

This invention relates to the application of heat to Vertical retorts, coke ovens or the like and while especially useful in the application of heat in the distillation of solid carbonaceous sub- V stances is of wide utility with respect to furnaces and settings in which uniformity in the application of heat and economy in its utilization are desirable.

According to the invention means are provided for the external application of heat to vertical retorts, coke ovens or the like, comprising superposed sets of inter-communicating horizontal heating ilues in which the burners are so set that the jets of burning gas or fuel issuing therefrom are directed by the burners with comburent air in opposite directions into those parts of the horizontal heating flues between adjacent retorts, the horizontal heating flues comprising also lateral flues extending at each side of the vertical retorts, coke ovens or the like and communicating with those parts of the horizontal heating flues disposed between them, whereby a general circulation of heating gas is thus maintained at high velocity in the operation of the burners for the uniform application of heat. Thus it will be understood that the direction of the jets determines the direction of movement of the hot products of combustion through the flues between adjacent retorts and induces a. general circulation throughout the inter-communicating horizontal iiues.

The invention comprises the features which are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation through Vhorizontal transversely disposed heating flues arranged in vertical series in a brickwork setting around a series of tapered vertical retorts, the section being taken on the line i--l of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a corresponding vertical cross-section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view corresponding to Figure 1.

Figures 4 to 6 show Views respectively corresponding to Figures 1, 2, and 3, in which the system of outlet flues is indicated for the waste gas from the respective inter-communicating horizontal flues in the set. Thus Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line ll-li of Figure 6; Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line 5 5 of Figure 6; and Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line 6 6 of Figure 4.

Thus in carrying the invention into effect as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, in its application to a bench of vertical retorts a advantageously tapered upwardly and of oblong transverse cross-section set parallel to each other, to which heat is applied by means of superposed sets of inter-communicating horizontal heating flues b disposed transversely of the retorts a, all the horizontal lues b as indicated in Figure 3 are defined by the opposite side walls of adjacent retorts a, and by the oppositely disposed side Walls c of the setting, whereby each retort is thus surrounded by sets of inter-communicating horizontal heating fiues b in vertical series, parts b1 of which are common to adjacent retorts, and the lateral parts b2 of the heating iiues at the respective ends of the retorts form a continuous lateral flue at each side of the setting from and into which the hot products of combustion pass under the effect of the issuing jets of burning gas or fuel, from the nozzles d set alternately in the opposite side walls c of the setting, whereby the direction of movement of the heating gases in the adjacent interstitial parts b1 of the horizontal heating flues of adjacent retorts is opposite, and thus a continuous circulation at high Velocity of the products of combustion together with air is maintained in the horizontal flues b around the respective retorts a.

It will be understood that the gas or fuel nozzles or burners d are according to the invention so set in line with the interstitial parts b1 of the horizontal heating fiues of adjacent retorts, that comburent air may be drawn in by the inwardly directed stream of gas or fuel through the apertures c1 surrounding the burners. Thus where the opposite side walls c of the setting are provided as cavity walls, as illustrated in Figure 3, or with ilues adapted for pre-heating the cornburent air, the jets of gas or fuel on issue from the nozzles or burners d may induce the flow of pre-heated air from the cavities or lues in the side walls c; or cold or pre-heated air may be otherwise derived from flues or passages in the setting or from outside the setting. By such means the products of combustion from one part b1 of the heating flue between adjacent retorts are induced to pass into the other fiues of the set under the effects of the jets of gas or fuel issuing from the burners d, the combustion products serving to maintain the heat applied to the retorts uniformly at the desired temperature.

It will furthermore be understood that the lateral parts b2 of the horizontal heating fiues are formed by the oppositely disposed side walls c of the setting and their cross-section may take any convenient form. They may also be provided with dampers whereby the flow of the products of combustion induced by the operation of the adjacent burners may be controlled.

At the position indicated el in Figures l and 3, in each interstitial part b1 of the sets of horizontal heating ues between adjacent retorts a at the end opposite to that at which the gas or fuel and comburent air are directed, the top and bottom faces oi the iiue may be formed with alternate ridges andgrooves sharply inclined at an angle to the direction of flow of the gas; or means such as a fire brick liner of tubular form may be incorporated in the insterstital parts b1 of the flues at e1, at the ends opposite to that at which the burner d is mounted, and the re brick. liner may be provided with alternate ridges and grooves of a substantially or approximately helical shape in which the pitch of the ridges is considerable. By such means a nal mixing of any remaining unburnt gas with air is eifected by which delayed combustion is induced at the ends of the parts b1 of the flue, and thus uniform heating of the walls of the retort at both ends maintained.

Surplus gas may as illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6 be withdrawn from the respective circuits of the horizontal sets of heating iiues b, Athe surplus gas passing into the outlet iiues e at both the upper and lower ends of the bench or set of retorts at each side, or in any other position. Thus the ports f may be providedin the side walls c of the setting adjacent the ends of the interstitial ue parts b1 between adjacent retorts opposite to the position at which the burners d are provided, and these ports f may be conveniently provided in vertical alignment for the upward or downward passage of the surplus gas from the respective circuits of the gasI in the inter-communicating horizontal flues through connecting flues f1, and thence through common outlet flues g extending substantially vertically, the surplus gas after passing through the flues y passing out through waste gas flues e, e at the upper and lower ends of the setting. The connecting flues f1 at the upper part of the setting are directed upwardly and those in the lower part of the setting are directed downwardly to discharge into the outlet :dues g which are upwardly directed in the upper part of the setting and downwardly directed in the lower part of the setting. 'I'hus the surplus gas from the circuits of the horizontal flues in the upper part of the setting pass into the waste gas flues e, e at the top of the setting and the surplus gas from the lower circuits pass into the waste gas flues e, e at the lower part of the setting.

It will furthermore be understood that as the series of burners d are alternately disposed in the opposite side walls to direct the fuel or gas and air in opposite directions into the interstitial parts b1 of the flues between adjacent retorts, the products of combustion are divided to pass in opposite directions laterally, so as to maintain a continuous circulation around the retorts in the bench in the manner hereinbefore described. Thus with respect to the horizontal sectional plan View in Figure 3, the gas or fuel may be caused to burn in an interstitial heating flue b1 running north at the opposite end of which the hot products oi combustion are divided to pass into passages running east and west. 'I'he products of combustion will then meet a flame of burning gas and air by which the mixture is induced to iiow into heating flues running south on opposite sides of the retort and travel in the reverse direction.

The east and west recirculation passages may communicate also with other passages leading to an escape chimney or to a ue in which a waste-heat boiler may be located for generating steam or for the application of waste heat for other purposes, it being understood that dampers or other means of regulation may be disposed in the passages to control the proportion of combustion products that are allowed to pass to the chimney or waste heat boiler flue, recuperator or the like.

The air supplied for the combustion of the fuel or gas may advantageously be pre-heated in passing through iiues or cavities in the brickwork setting or through passages surrounding the waste iiue leading to the chimney or through a recuperator.

It will be understood that according 'to the invention it is practicable to admit equal quantities of heating gases through supply mains at either side of a bench of retorts or ovens, thus ensuring equal heating on both sides and by suitable adjustment of the supply of gas and the initial supply of air to avoid intimate admixture in the initial stage of combustion, whereby the combustion may be prolonged and delayed as the result of the provision of the flues, passages or conduits of such farm as to induce a swirling action and consequent intimate admixture. by which any remaining unburnt gas may be burnt.

I am aware that it has before been proposed to apply heat to regenerative coke ovens of the horizontal type by means of a series of vertical flues inter-communicating by means of two horizontal flues respectively above and below the series of vertical flues, the vertical nues being formed by vertical dividing walls. The construction according to the present invention relates to retorts or coking ovens or the like of the vertical type and comprises superposed sets of inter-communicating horizontal heating iiues by which the heating gases circulate around all the retorts in the bench or set in the zones oi the heating flues.

I claim:

l. Means for the external application of heat to vertical retort or coke oven chambers, consisting of a setting, a number of vertical retort or coke oven chambers disposed within the setting, sets of horizontal heating ues disposed in vertical series in the height of the setting, each of said sets of horizontal heating nues comprising interstitial parallel flues between opposite walls of adjacent chambers and transversely disposed ues communicating therewith and eX- tending longitudinally adjacent the respective ends of the said chambers, and fuel burners for the respective sets of horizontal heating ilues, the fuel burners for each set being mounted alternately at opposite ends of alternate interstitial ues to maintain the fiow of heating gas in alternate interstitial flues in opposite directions.

2. Means for the external application of heat to vertical retort or coke oven chambers, consisting of a setting, a number of vertical retort or coke oven chambers disposed within the setting, sets of horizontal heating lues disposed in vertical series in the height of the setting, each of said sets of horizontal heating flues comprising interstitial parallel ues between opposite walls of adjacent chambers and transversely disposed flues communicating therewith and extending longitudinally adjacent the respective ends of the said chambers within the lateral walls of the setting, the said lateral walls being formed as cavity Walls and adapted as means for supplying comburent air to the fuel burners employed, and fuel burners for the respective sets of horizontal heating ues, the fuel burners for each set being mounted alternately at opposite ends of alternate interstitial ilues to maintain the flow of heating gas in alternate interstitial ues in opposite directions.

3. Means for the external application of heat to vertical retort or coke oven chambers, as specied in claim 1, in combination with means for causing the intimate admixture of the fuel and air at the end of the respective interstitial flueS opposite to that at which the respective fuel burners are mounted.

4. Means for the external application of heat to vertical retort or coke oven chambers, as specied in claim 1, in combination with two sets of outlet ues for Waste gas disposed at each side of the setting, one set serving the upper sets of horizontal heating lues and opening into the waste gas ue at the upper end, While the outlet i'lues of the other set open into the waste gas 10 flue at the lower end of the setting.

JOHN ROBERTS. 

